Rousham, The Secret Garden of Oxfordshire

Rambling roses encasing woven branch archways that cover elegant pools of water, your reflection so vividly clear, the water is as tranquil as the peaceful aura that makes the garden so special…

Rousham is 12 miles North of the city of Oxford, I am incredibly lucky to live so near to this exquisite place, it is one of the very few gardens to this day which has completely escaped alteration of the modern age. There is no commercialisation, also no dogs or children under 15 allowed (bear this in mind if you are planning a family visit).

All of this makes the gardens seem almost untouched, there were a few groups of people there at the same time we were but this did not alter the calm atmosphere in any way.

Tickets for the gardens are £6, you can also pre-book a tour of the house if you are visiting in a larger group.

We enjoyed a walk around the walled gardens and grounds, sat by the river soaking up the sun for a long time and got so many lovely photos. Whether you are a flower enthusiast, if you are looking for a peaceful day to yourself, or you love taking photos of nature and the outdoors (or lots of your friends looking gorgeous against floral backdrops that are certainly Instagram worthy!), then you will love Rousham.

This was one of my favourite spots, the only noises were the sounds of the birds and the lapping of the water on the river bank.

We all thought this would be the ideal place to sit and paint or draw, so if unlike us you are able to paint beautiful landscapes then I can imagine this would be the perfect spot!

If like me and my friends, you are major picnic enthusiasts, grab your picnic basket and blanket, and stock up on cocktail sausages because this is one of the most lovely picnic spots we have enjoyed, and we have had a fair few picnics round Oxfordshire (shocker: we are indeed uni students and not retired Grandma’s).

If you also love being at one with nature, Rousham also had an element of this! Now don’t get carried away, we’re still in England, we’re not exactly feeding elephants in Thailand or observing sea turtles in Coral Bay, but we made a new pal with a peacock who was very friendly and interested in anybody who had a snack in their hand, what a guy…

If you have enjoyed books like the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and were read Beatrix Potter books as a child, the honeysuckle, intricately carved archways and walled gardens with ivy and assortments of spring colours climbing up them will certainly make you nostalgic.

“It is the time you have spent on your rose that makes her so important” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

The gardens were designed by William Kent (1685-1748) who was originally a painter who went on to create what many called the “new English garden”. The gardens stand in almost the very same way that he left them in back in the early days of Georgian Britain.

“What we call the highest and the lowest in nature are both equally perfect. A willow bush is as beautiful as the human form divine.” – Beatrix Potter

This was a perfect day out

“And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

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